A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers #5)(13)

Footmen helped them from the carriage, and Westcliff’s stablemen came to help with the horses. More servants hurried to collect the trunks and valises. An elderly butler admitted them into the massive entrance hall, where regiments were going back and forth; housemaids with baskets of linens, footmen with crates and boxes, and others engaged in cleaning, polishing, and sweeping.

“Lord and Lady Blandford!” Lillian came to them, looking radiant in a dark red gown, her sable hair neatly confined in a snood made of jeweled netting. With her brilliant smile and relaxed friendliness, she was so engaging that Hannah understood why the famously dignified earl of Westcliff had married her. Lillian bowed to them, and they responded in kind.

“Welcome to Stony Cross Park,” Lillian said. “I hope your journey was comfortable? Please excuse the clamor and bustle, we’re desperately trying to prepare for the hordes of guests who will pour in tomorrow. After you refresh yourselves, you must come to the main parlor. My parents are there, and of course my brother, and” She broke off as she saw Natalie. “My dear Lady Natalie.” Her voice softened. “I have so looked forward to meeting you. We will do everything possible to make certain you have a lovely holiday.”

“Thank you, my lady,” Natalie replied demurely. “I have no doubt it will be splendid.” She smiled at Lillian. “My companion told me there will be a Christmas tree.”

“Fourteen feet high,” Lillian said enthusiastically. “We’re having a devil of a…that is, a most difficult time decorating it, as the top branches are impossible to reach. But we have extending ladders and many tall footmen, so we will prevail.” She turned to Hannah. “Miss Appleton. A pleasure to see you again.”

“Thank you, my” Hannah paused as she realized that Lillian had extended her hand. Bemusedly Hannah reached out to take it, and gave her a quizzical glance.

The countess winked at her, and Hannah realized she was being teased. She burst out laughing at the private joke, and returned the warm pressure of Lillian’s fingers.

“In light of your remarkable tolerance for the Bowmans,” Lillian told her, “you must come to the parlor too.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The housekeeper came to show them to their rooms, leading them across what seemed to be miles of flooring.

“Hannah, why did Lady Westcliff shake your hand?” Natalie whispered. “And why did you both seem to find it so amusing?”

NATALIE AND HANNAH WERE TO SHARE A ROOM, WITH NATALIE occupying the main bed and Hannah sleeping in a cozy antechamber. The room was beautifully appointed with flowered paper on the walls and mahogany furniture, and a bed with a lace canopy.

While Natalie washed her hands and face, Hannah found a clean day dress for her and shook it out. The dress was a becoming shade of blue, with a dropped shoulder line filled in with lace, and long slim-fitting sleeves. Smiling in anticipation of meeting the Bowmans, Natalie sat before the vanity mirror while Hannah brushed and repinned her coiffure. After making certain that Natalie’s appearance was perfect, her nose lightly dusted with powder, her lips smoothed with rosewater salve, Hannah went to her own valise and began to rummage through it.

Lady Blandford appeared in the doorway, looking refreshed and poised. “Come, girls,” she said serenely. “It is time for us to join the company downstairs.”

“A few more minutes, Mama,” Natalie said. “Hannah hasn’t yet changed her dress or tidied her hair.”

“We mustn’t keep everyone waiting,” Lady Blandford insisted. “Come as you are, Hannah. No one will notice.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Hannah said obediently, concealing a pang of dismay. Her traveling clothes were dusty, and her hair was threatening to fall from its pins. She did not want to face the Bowmans and the Westcliffs in this condition. “I would prefer to stay up here and help the maids to unpack the trunks”

“No,” Lady Blandford said with an impatient sigh. “Ordinarily I would agree, but the countess requested your presence. You must come as you are, Hannah, and try to be unassuming.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Hannah pushed the straggles of loose hair back from her face and dashed to the washstand to splash her face. Water spots made little dark patches on her traveling gown. Groaning inwardly, she followed Natalie and Lady Blandford from the room.

“I’m sorry,” Natalie whispered to her, frowning. “We shouldn’t have taken so much time getting me ready.”

“Nonsense,” Hannah murmured, reaching out to pat her arm. “You’re the one everyone wants to see. Lady Blandford is rightno one will notice me.”

The house was beautifully ornamented, the windows swathed in gold silk edged with dangling gold tinsel balls, the doorways surmounted by swags of beribboned evergreens and holly and ivy. Tables were loaded with candles and arrangements of everlasting flowers such as chrysanthemums and Christmas roses and camellias. And someone, slyly, had adorned several doorways with kissing balls hung with evergreen ropes.

Glancing at the bunches of mistletoe, Hannah felt a stab of nervousness as she thought of Rafe Bowman. Calm yourself, she thought with a self-deprecating grin, glancing down at her disheveled dress. He certainly won’t try to kiss you now, not even beneath a cartload of mistletoe.

They entered the main parlor, a large and comfortably furnished room with a game table, and piles of books and periodicals, a pianoforte, a standing sewing hoop, and a small secretary desk.